By Hassan Ibrahim
Some stakeholders have emphasised the importance of promoting non-oil exports and diversifying the economy for sustainable development. This was the call during the State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP) held recently in Bauchi State.
The all-important meeting hosted by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council was attended by Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), including the Hon. Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of the Bauchi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), Standards Organization Of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Nigerian Miners Association (NMA) and Members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) and many other relevant stakeholders.
The Committee, chaired by the Director of the Bauchi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry holds quarterly to discuss progress made towards promoting the export of raw materials from the state.
In his opening address, the state coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and Mr Yakubu Ajagaie hinted that Bauchi State is blessed with numerous exportable products and emphasized the need to promote non-oil exports. He further encouraged participants to actively engage in the deliberations.
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Addressing the gathering, Hon. Commissioner, Bauchi state Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Salis Gamawa; praised the Committee’s efforts in promoting non-oil exports from Bauchi stressing that Bauchi state is richly blessed with youthful and vibrant human resources and abundantly blessed with exportable minerals and Agro-Raw materials that if adequately harnessed would turn around the economic fortunes of the state. He added that, being the Gateway to the Northeast of Nigeria, Bauchi state is working on establishing a world-class inland dry port and a free trade zone. These, he said, will be achieved in collaboration with other strategic Partners. He further urged the private sector to take charge as major movers of the economy.
Also, speaking at the event, a Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry who doubles as Chairman of SCEP in Bauchi, Alh. Jibrin Baba Ka’oje highlighted the role of SCEP in promoting non-oil exports, adding that Nigeria’s export volume increased by 20.77% in the year 2024, and 80% of non-oil exports originate from the North.
Contributing to the discourse, the RMRDC State Coordinator, represented by Mr. Ahmad H. Ibrahim, emphasised the RMRDC value addition bill as an important way to grow Nigeria’s export if the bill scales through. He noted that effort would be channelled to developing the abundant non-oil product for export gains. He also informed the meeting of the need to produce, document, and maintain a comprehensive record of all exports, including their volumes and destinations. These, he added, would be used for future references and may influence the government’s future policy on Raw Materials.
The meeting resolves that the Committee moves to action and implements resolutions reached at both national and state levels.
